ACU's Jackson, McMurry's Pena move up national track ranks

Victor Cristales/Reporter-News
Kevin Dilworth, competing unattached, finishes first in the men’s long jump with a distance of 7.47 meters during the Oliver Jackson Open at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Field on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Victor Cristales/Reporter-News
McMurry University’s John Nation finishes fifth in the men’s long jump with a distance of 6.97 meters during the Oliver Jackson Open at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Field on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

Desmond Jackson of Abilene Christian, defending champion for 100 meters in the Lone Star Conference, sprinted to a 10.34 Saturday night at Elmer Gray Stadium to move to second in the nation in the latest NCAA Division II rankings.

Jackson's quick 100 meters was a highlight of the annual Oliver Jackson Open and one of three victories for the Wildcat men's team by press time for the Abilene Reporter-News.

Also, Tyler Fleet won the hammer throw with 189 feet, 11 inches, and defending NCAA Division II champion Ramon Sparks took the triple jump at 51-1.5. Still to be contested were the 200, steeplechase, 5,000 and 1,600-meter relay.

The ACU women grabbed victories from its 400 relay team in 46.22 and defending NCAA Division II champion Linda Brivule in the javelin at 167-7, which improved her standing as the top thrower in Division II again this season.

Also winning for the Wildcat women were Amanda Clemons with 40-7 in the triple jump, Anais Belledant with 4:34.09 in the 1,500 and Kim Prather with 55.09 in the 400.

McMurry swept the pole vault with Holly Rollins taking the women's division (12-6) and Cory Altenberg and Stephen Toler both vaulting 16-2¾ to tie for the top spot among men.

McMurry also had a win from Stryker Pena with 6-10¼ in the high jump. The sophomore from tiny Samnorwood moved into a tie for third in the Division III national rankings. He already has the best long jump in Division III.

In one of the top events of the meet, former Texas Tech all-America thrower Jason Young won a duel in the discus throw with Abilene Christian student Nick Jones. Young threw 216-4, but Jones, two-time NCAA Division II champion, turned in his personal best at 199-10 during a redshirt season.

Former ACU Wildcats athlete Kevin Dilworth won the long jump at 24-6¼, and another Wildcats redshirt, hurdler Andrew McDowell, won the 110 hurdles in 14.22.

The ACU men's 400 relay team, in a bid to improve its 2010 best of 41.10, failed to make the second baton exchange and did not finish.

ACU and the other LSC teams were competing in their final tuneup before the league meet that begins Friday in San Angelo. Four other top LSC performers who were Saturday winners were Aisha Adams of ASU in the women's 100 hurdles (14.01), James Howell of ASU in the men's 400 (46.84), and Jared McNeil of Tarleton State (1:52.87) and Andria Nussey of ASU (2:21.22) in the 800 meters.